Trout, Harper top MLB rookies

NEW YORK — Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels became the youngest AL Rookie of the Year on Monday and Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals was voted the second-youngest winner of the NL honour.

Trout, who turned 21 on Aug. 7, received all 28 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s AL panel. The centre fielder was the eighth unanimous AL pick and the first since Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria in 2008.

Trout, who hit .326 with 30 homers and 83 RBIs, received the maximum 140 points. Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was second with 63, followed by Texas pitcher Yu Darvish (46), who joined Trout as the only players listed on every ballot.

Trout, a son of former Minnesota minor league infielder Jeff Trout, spent some time in the majors last year but still retained his rookie status. He began this season in the minors and made his first big league appearance this year on April 28 — the day of Harper’s major league debut. Trout’s season put him in contention for the AL MVP award along with Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera of Detroit. That voting is announced Thursday.

For winning the award, Trout earned a $10,000 bonus on top of his $482,500 salary.

Harper turned 20 on Oct. 16. The outfielder got 16 of 32 first-place votes and 112 point. Arizona pitcher Wade Miley was second with 12 first-place votes and 105 points, followed by Cincinnati slugger Todd Frazier with three firsts and 45 points.

Harper was the top pick of the 2010 amateur draft and batted .270 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs as Washington brought post-season play to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1933. Only Tony Conigliaro (24) hit more home runs as a teenager.